Film Obsessive
HBO has announced that HBO Documentary Films’ Moonage Daydream, the 2022 documentary directed by Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy®-winning filmmaker Brett Morgen, will debut on the the network Saturday, April 29 and be available to stream on HBO Max.
Focused on the sound and vision of musician, singer, and multimedia artist David Bowie, one of the most influential figures in rock, Moonage Daydream was named one of the Highlights of 2022 by Film Obsessive’s staff. Film Obsessive reviewer J Paul Johnson lauded the film as “spectacular” and “extraordinary,” calling it a “kaleidoscopic, kinetic ride with the spaceman himself, slipping with him in and out of his various guises as he teases and tantalizes his audience with his evocative music, provocative visuals, and intelligent self-reflection.”
In an April 6 press release, HBO describes the film as “Guided by Bowie’s own narration and told through sublime, kaleidoscopic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, this feature length experiential cinematic odyssey explores his creative, musical, and spiritual journey.”
Director Morgen was able to employ a lifetime of materials granted him by Bowie’s estate to the musician’s personal archives. These included an extensive catalog of unseen footage and personal collection of his own art and poetry. Upon receiving access in 2018, Morgen spent four years assembling the film and another 18 months designing the soundscape, animations, and color palette while working with Bowie’s long-time collaborator, friend, and music producer Tony Visconti and Academy Award®-winning sound mixer Paul Massey (“Bohemian Rhapsody”).
In addition to Film Obsessive’s acclaim, Moonage Daydream is one of the most critically acclaimed and celebrated documentaries of 2022. Following its debut at Cannes Film Festival, Morgen’s documentary won the WGA Award for Best Documentary Screenplay, the CAS Award for Best Sound Mix–Documentary, and the MPSE Award for Best Music Editing. Moonage Daydream further received five Critics Choice Award nominations, winning the award for Best Editing, and was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Documentary.
Written, directed, produced, and edited by Brett Morgen with music produced by Tony Visconti, HBO Documentary Films’ Moonage Daydream premieres on HBO and HBO Max Saturday, April 29, 2023.
